Become a Holistic Health Counselor – Education & Licensure Guide
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“Earning a degree in school counseling has enriched my approach to helping students by adding color and variety. Without this background, I might have viewed my career as straightforward and by the book. However, being a counselor allows me to see each student holistically, deeply understand their developmental stages, and create tailored approaches to help them succeed in the future.”
Brandelyn Hall, MSM, MASC, Director of Upward Bound, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Treating just one aspect of a client’s issues is sometimes not enough for a practitioner. Therapists who want to take a comprehensive approach that includes caring for a client’s emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual well-being should consider branching out into a career as a holistic health counselor.
The integrative approach holistic health counselors use can help clients obtain optimal wellness rather than just treating one symptom at a time. For example, a client with cancer will need care from an oncology team but can also benefit from a nutritionist, alternative medicine provider, and a holistic health counselor who can help them heal through multiple modalities.
Most holistic health counselors are licensed mental health therapists or other types of counselors who have completed a master’s degree in counseling, completed supervised work hours, and hold a license to practice in their state.
In addition to counseling education, holistic health counselors may have training in complementary treatments such as massage therapy, nutrition, acupuncture, nursing, Chinese medicine, and more. If a holistic health counselor can’t provide the needed services, they will refer their client to trusted practitioners and coordinate with them to produce comprehensive care.
Mental health counselors, including holistic health counselors, are in high demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2024), there will be an estimated 18 percent growth in jobs in this field between 2022 and 2032. An increased number of insured Americans and a higher rate of referral to counseling versus incarceration for drug offenders are the primary reasons for this uptick.
The goal of holistic health counseling is to care for the entire patient. If that sounds like an exciting career path, keep reading to learn what it takes to enter this profession.
Meet the Expert: Brandelyn Hall, MSM, MASC
Brandelyn Hall is the dedicated director of Upward Bound at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. With a master’s degree in school counseling, Hall brings over a decade of experience and passion to her role. She leads a comprehensive pre-college program that holistically prepares high school students for college life’s academic, social, and emotional challenges.
Hall is most proud of her profound ability to positively impact students’ lives by providing them with the tools and support they need to succeed in higher education. Through her leadership, Upward Bound not only focuses on academic readiness but also addresses the personal development and well-being of each student, ensuring a well-rounded preparation for their future college endeavors.
CounselingSchools.com: How has graduating with a master’s in counseling enhanced your career?
Hall: Earning a degree in school counseling has enriched my approach to helping students by adding color and variety. Without this background, I might have viewed my career as straightforward and by the book. However, being a counselor allows me to see each student holistically, deeply understand their developmental stages, and create tailored approaches to help them succeed in the future.
For instance, programming for a brand-new freshman who is 14 years old must differ significantly from that for a high school senior who is 17 or 18. Their developmental needs are distinct and not in the same mental space. Especially in the post-Covid era, I’ve noticed student needs shifts and adapted our responses accordingly. This adaptability has made our program stand out within the TRIO spectrum, demonstrating our commitment to addressing the unique needs of our students.
CounselingSchools.com: What is one piece of advice you would give to a prospective master’s in counseling student?
Hall: My advice is to know your reason for being there. Being in the program can be both triggering and healing. Having a strong understanding of why you are in that space and what you hope to achieve as a practitioner is crucial. This solid foundation will help you stay committed to the program, support your graduation, and provide a solid professional base.
How to Become a Holistic Health Counselor
At a minimum, holistic health counselors earn graduate-level education and training in mental health counseling. Additionally, they may hold certifications in massage therapy, acupuncture, Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, naturopathy, reiki, or nursing. The degrees, certifications, and training a holistic health counselor completes can vary widely depending on previous skills and specializations.
Education of a Holistic Health Counselor
Education for holistic health counselors can take many different paths.
A holistic health counselor must complete a master’s in counseling to practice as a mental health counselor. A master’s is necessary to provide quality patient care and is also required for state licensing. Holistic health counselors should look for programs that teach multiple counseling modalities or offer complementary education programs.
One program holistic health counselors should consider is the master of arts clinical mental health counseling: holistic studies at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This two-year program meets the requirements for state licensure and trains students to care for the whole client, not just the mental health side. Required holistic courses include counseling and spirituality, theories of holistic counseling, and psychology of illness and wellness. In addition to classroom coursework, students complete supervised clinical work experiences to gain hands-on skills working directly with clients.
Students should ensure that their counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Many states require that candidates complete a CACREP-accredited program to be eligible for licensing.
Many holistic counselors need complementary skills, which require additional education. For example, holistic counselors could complete massage school, a master’s in naturopathy, a doctorate in acupuncture, or a certificate in reiki. This additional education can take anywhere from a few months to a few years, depending on the level of education completed and the degree pursued.
Currently, licensed mental health therapists wanting to transition to holistic health counseling can complete short certificate courses or continuing education programs to learn more about this modality. For example, the Zur Institute offers a six-hour continuing education course for licensed counselors in holistic psychotherapy.
Supervised Hour Requirements for a Holistic Health Counselor
All holistic health counselors who provide mental health services must complete a required number of supervised work hours. The number of hours required varies by state and can be anywhere from 1,500 on the low to 4,000 on the high end.
For example, in Oregon, aspiring holistic health counselors providing mental health services must complete 2,400 hours of direct client contact work experience over the course of three years.
In addition to the hours required for licensure, students will typically complete a minimum 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship as part of the education program. At Lesley University, for example, students will earn more than that with either a 700-hour or a 1,300-hour internship.
Licensure of a Holistic Health Counselor
Mental health therapists providing holistic health counseling services must be licensed to practice in all 50 states. Licensing is often a two-step process with an initial, intern, or associate license issued first followed by a professional license upon completion of the required supervised work experience. Candidates will also have to pass some level of testing. The National Counselor Examination (NCE) from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) is the most common exam.
Some states require passing a state-level board certification exam or proving licensure requirements to work legally. For example, in Colorado, licensed mental health therapists must first earn a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidates (LPCCs) license. This license requires a master’s degree from a CACREP-accredited school, paying the licensing fee, and submitting an online application. To become Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs), LPCCs must complete 2,000 hours of work experience, pass the NCE exam, and pass the Colorado Mental Health Profession’s Jurisprudence Examination.
Holistic health counselors’ complementary services will also require additional licensing or certification. Some of these are state licenses that require students to apply to the state licensing board, while others are certifications issued by boards or national agencies. Here are some of the most common additional certifications held:
- Licensed massage therapist
- Registered nurse
- Diplomate of Acupuncture
- Diplomate of Chinese Herbology
- National Ayurvedic Medical Association Certification Board certification
The American Association of Drugless Practitioners offers board certification as a holistic health practitioner. This voluntary certification is available to any doctor or practitioner who practices drugless therapies.
Holistic Health Counselor Licensure Renewal Requirements
Licensed mental health counselors who provide holistic health counseling must renew their licenses according to their state’s guidelines. Timelines can vary from one to five years. Renewal requirements will vary by state but often include a completed application, an updated background check, a renewal fee, and verification of completion of a required number of continuing education hours.
Some of the continuing education hours must meet specific content requirements and requirements about self-study versus in-person coursework.
Nevada, for example, requires 40 hours of continuing education each year. Six of those 40 hours must be in ethics, and four must be in suicide prevention. At least half of the continuing education hours must be taken in person or in a live webinar where the presenter and other participants can interact.
The requirements for continuing education hours are frequently updated, so licensed counselors should check with their local boards to ensure they take the appropriate classes in the required timeline. These changes can be permanent or temporary due to extenuating circumstances such as the global coronavirus pandemic.
For example, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists offered an extension. It required 80 hours of continuing education in two years versus their standard requirement of 40 hours every year.
What Do Holistic Health Counselors Do?
Holistic health counselors provide a variety of services to their clients. They can work in hospitals, clinics, mental health rehabilitation centers, and in their own private practice. Services can vary widely based on the education completed and what complementary health services a provider may offer. Day-to-day duties can include:
- Scheduling clients for mental health therapy appointments
- Meeting one-on-one with clients to provide psychotherapy
- Assessing a client’s well-being not just based on their mental health but also on their physical, spiritual, and emotional status
- Recommending and educating clients on additional care services such as nutrition, exercise, sleep patterns, meditation, lifestyle, and medical care that may benefit them
- Coordinating with other care providers to provide holistic care to a client
- Administering alternative care such as reiki, massage therapy, or acupuncture
- Maintaining careful client records
How Much Do Holistic Health Counselors Make?
Holistic health counselors are most often classified as substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS May 2023). Data from the BLS shows that substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors earn about the same average annual salary for all occupations nationwide. The average annual salary for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is $60,080 (BLS May 2023), compared to the national average for all occupations at $65,470 (BLS May 2023).
Salary data for mental health counselors is as follows:
| United States | |
|---|---|
| Number of Professionals Employed | 397,880 |
| Annual Mean Wage | $60,080 |
| 10th percentile | $36,700 |
| 25th percentile | $44,600 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $53,710 |
| 75th percentile | $70,130 |
| 90th percentile | $89,920 |
Holistic Health Counselor Professional Associations & Resources
- American Association of Drugless Practitioners
- American Institute of Integrative Medicine
- American Alternative Medical Association
- American Association of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine
- American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
- American Holistic Health Association
- The American Board of Integrative Medicine
- American Institute of Homeopathy
- American Massage Therapy Association
- American Society of Clinical Hypnosis
- Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals
- Foundation for Alternative and Integrative Medicine
- National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
- National Ayurvedic Medical Association
Kimmy Gustafson
WriterAt CounselingSchools.com, Kimmy Gustafson’s expertly crafted articles delve into the world of counseling and mental health, providing valuable insights and guidance to readers since 2020. In addition to feature pieces and interviews, she keeps the state licensing tables current. Kimmy has been a freelance writer for more than a decade, writing hundreds of articles on a wide variety of topics such as startups, nonprofits, healthcare, kiteboarding, the outdoors, and higher education. She is passionate about seeing the world and has traveled to over 27 countries. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oregon. When not working, she can be found outdoors, parenting, kiteboarding, or cooking.
Rachel Drummond, MEd
WriterRachel Drummond has used her expertise in education and mindfulness to guide aspiring counselors since 2020. Her work emphasizes the importance of integrating reflective mindfulness into counseling techniques, helping readers understand how mental and physical well-being can enhance their professional practice and personal development in counseling.
Rachel is a writer, educator, and coach from Oregon. She has a master’s degree in education (MEd) and has over 15 years of experience teaching English, public speaking, and mindfulness to international audiences in the United States, Japan, and Spain. She writes about the mind-body benefits of contemplative movement practices like yoga on her blog, inviting people to prioritize their unique version of well-being and empowering everyone to live healthier and more balanced lives.